Plastic buckle or adjuster

ABSTRACT

In a plastic buckle or adjuster comprising first and second plate members, one of said plate members being provided with a clamp means and a slot, each of hinge means for opening and closing said plate members comprising a laterally projecting journal provided with a generally circular stopper head of a larger diameter than that of said journal and a bearing provided with a bearing hole which is adapted to engage with said journal, and said journal being adapted to fit in the corresponding bearing.

United States Patent 1191 Takabayashi A 1 PLASTIC BUCKLE OR ADJUSTER Inventor: Teruo Takabayashl, Kyoto, Japan Assignee: Kohskoh Limited, Kyoto, Japan Filed! Mar. 13, 1973 Appl. No.: 340,726

US. Cl. 24/191 Int. Cl A44b 11/12 Field of Search 16/171; 220/31 R, 31 S, 220/31 SR, 31; 24/84 B, 84 H, 84 R, 248

HC, 248 SL, 208 A, 255 SL, 245 FF, 170, 191,193, 74 A, 74 R, 16 R, PR, 16 PB,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1919, Caligan 24/191' 11/1935 Nagel ..24/191 1/1958 Beaudryulu ..24/255 s1. ux 11/1960 3,206,816 9/19 5 3,356,247 12/1967 Goldsobel 220/31 R 1451 July 16, 1974 3,477,634 Kamins et a], 24/208 A X 1 11 1969 3,511,433 5 1970 Andrews (3! al 220/31 s x 3,526,935 9/1970 Boyce 618i. 24/84 R 3,608,158 9 1971 Bengtsson 24 170 3,748,700 7/1973 Willey 24/90 PR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 456,749 6 1913 France 24 191 621,404 4/1949 Great Britain, 24/208 A Primary Eicaminer'Donald A. Griffin 5 7] ABSTRACT In a plastic buckle or adjuster comprising first and second plate members, one of said plate members being provided with a clamp means and a slot, each of hinge means for opening and closing said plate members comprising a laterally projecting journalprovided with a generally circular stopper head of a larger diameter than that of said journal anda bearing provided with a bearing hole which is adapted to engagewith said journal, and said journal being adapted to fit in the corresponding bearing. 4

16 Claims, '27 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUL 1 5 3 823.444

sum war 9 2 I Mim WNW ill! PATENTEDJULI 5 I974 'SHEH S-BFQ PATENTED JUL s 1974 SHEEI 6 BF 9 PATENTED JUL 1 61924 SHEEYBUFQ Fig.2

keeping the belts, bands or straps from moving longitudinally and for holding a required portion thereof in place following the pivotal operation of said plate I member and at the other end thereof with a slot for receiving one end of the belts, bands, straps or the like therethrough and holding them in place. I

This kind of buckle or adjuster is already available in the market, all of which is made of metal. Such metal buckle or adjuster gives uncomfortable feeling to the users because of its heaviness, coldness and hardness which are peculiar to metal goods, particularly when it is used for lingerie straps. Further, such buckle or adjuster readily corrodes and is apt to damage the bands, belts, straps or the like. Furthermore, the conventional buckleor adjuster of this type involves a number of component parts due to the relatively complicated make thereof, thus the reduction of weight and size thereof is difficult; Besides the above disadvantages, the cost of material for the metal buckle or adjuster is much more higher than that for the plastic one.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a plastic buckle or adjusterthat can be manufactured extremely inexpensively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the plastic buckle or adjuster having an improved construction which is simple and easy to mold and construct and which can function most effectively as a buckle or adjuster. i

A further object of the present invention is to provide the plastic buckle or adjuster which is light inweight and which gives no uncomfortable feeling to the users.

also be apparent to persons skilled in the-art in working the present invention.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the second plate member of thebuckle or adjuster shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first plate member; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a bearing portion shown to explain how a stopper-headed journal fits ina bearing hole in the buckle or adjuster shown in FIG. 1',

FIG. 5fis a fragrnental sectionalview of amodified journal and bearing; I

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a plate member provided with the bearing having the bearing hole comprising a journal holding hole and a journal fitting hole;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the plate member shown in FIG. 8 is an axial sectional view of the bearing portion showing how the journal fits in the bearing hole of the bearing shown in FIG. 6, the journal in this position being actually unable to enter the bearing hole;-

FIG. 9 is an axial sectional view similar to FIG. 8, the journal being able to enter the tion; I

FIG. 10 is an axial sectional view of the buckle or adjuster similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 showing how the journal fits alternatively in the bearing;

FIG. llis a plan view of a journal portion having a modified stopper head;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section of the first embodi-' ment of the buckle or adjuster or belt;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the buckle or adjuster shown in FIG. 13;

being applied to a band FIG. 15 is a perspective view of said buckle or adjuster being applied to a band or belt and both plate members thereof being inthe closed state;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the buckle or adjustere shown in FIG. 15 seen in the direction of arrow XVI;

4 FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views of modifications of the buckle or adjuster shown in FIG. 13;

- FIG. 19 is a perspective view ofa preferred embodiment of the buckle or adjuster having a locking means;'

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the buckle or adjuster shown inFIG. 19, wherein both plate members are in the closed state and male and female locking elements are in the interlocked state,

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the buckle or adjuster shown in FIG. 19,

. FIGS. 22 and 23 are fragemental perspective views of modifications of the male and female locking elements;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are perspective views of another modification of the buckle or adjuster according to the I present invention, wherein the hinge means comprises a belt-shaped member formed integrally with the plate members; I

FIG. 26 is a perspective view; and FIG. 27 is a fragmenta] perspective view of another modification of the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention.

gitudinal side of plate member means the same side as the long sideof the bands, belts, straps or the'like.

bearing hole in this posi- Referring now to FIG. 1 which shows the first embodiment of the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention, said buckle or adjuster comprising a first plate member 2 and a second plate member 4. Each of the plate members is molded integrally of the plastic material and is adapted to open and close by means of hinge means 6, 8 provided at each end of each of the plate members. A clamp member 10 is provided at one side of the plate member 2 projecting generally perpendicularly from the surface of said plate and extending in the transverse direction to the bands, belts, straps or the like, said clamp member 10 being adapted to press the required portion of bands, belts, straps or the like against the inner face of the plate member 4 following the pivotal operation of said plate member 2 to clamp them. A slot 12 is provided at the other side of said plate member 2 for inserting one end of the bands, belts or straps therethrough to hold it securely in place.

Each of the hinge means 6 or 8 comprises a journal 14 or 16 extending laterally integrally with the plate member 2 at one of the longitudinal sides of said plate member 2 and having at the outer end thereof a circular stopper head 13 or of a diameter larger than that of the journal, and a bearing 18 or having a bearing hole 17 or 19 extending perpendicularly from and integrally with the plane of the plate member 4 at one of the longitudinal sides of said plate member 4, the position of said bearing 18 or 20 being in correspondence to that of said journal and the diameter of saidbearing hole 17 or 19 conforming generally to that of said journal. Said stopper head is to prevent the removal of the journal from the bearing due to the opening and closing movement of the plate members at the time of use or various movement or vibration caused by the users, and is thus very effective. In FIGS. 2 to 4 the stopper head 13 or 15 is illustrated as being hemispherical, and the bearing hole 17 or 19 is illustrated as being of the same bore throughout its length. Since the entire component parts of the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention are made of the plastic material, said stopperheaded journal 14 or 16 can be forced into its corresponding bearing hole 17 or 19 by so deforming the peripheral edge of the stopper head 13 or 15 utilizing the resilience peculiar to plastics that the maximum outer diameter of the stopper head becomes slightly smaller than the bore of the bearing hole, and as shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. 4 the stopper head 13 or 15 restores it original shape after passing through the hearing hole to hold the journal in the required position.

Said stopper head 13 or 15 and bearing hole 17 or 19 can be modified, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. In the figure a stopper head 113 is formed in a frustoconical shape, while a bearing hole 117 is fonned to have a larger bore at its internal end that at its outer end, said bore at the outer end being slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the stopper head.

In the above-mentioned embodiment said stopper headed journal is forced into the corresponding bearing hole by deforming the stopper head utilizing the resilience of plastic material, however, said journal can be fit in the bearing hole in another way. FIGS. 6 to 10 show the modifications of bearing into which the journal can be inserted without deformation of the stopper head 13 or 15.

As it is clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the bearing hole 17 of the bearing 18 (for the purpose of simplification explanation will be given only with regard to the bearing 18 and it will be omitted with regard to the bearing 20) consists of a journal holding hole 17A generally of a semi-circular shape and conforming practia ly thsri anlsts fjh ss 199594.14 and a journal fitting hold 17B interconnected with the journal holding hole 17A at the bottom side of said journal holding hole and having a lateral width W conforming practically to the diameter of the stopper head 13. Further, said journal fitting hole 178 comprises a first segment 178 and a second segment 1713 said first segment 178, being defined between the upper end of said journal fitting hole and the plate surface of the plate member 4, while said second segment 17B defining an area which extends from the plate surface perpendicularly downward through a portion of the 'plate member. As illustrated and mentioned above, the

first segment 178, has the lateral width W conforming practically to the diameter of the stopper head, while the height H thereof is less than the diammter D of said stopper head. Accordingly, in introducing the journal 14 into the journal fitting hole 173 of such a construction, if the journal 14 before insertion is substantially parallel with the plate surface of the plate member 4 as shown in FIG. 8, said journal is unable to enter the hole 17B, however, if the journal 14 is properly inclined against its horizontal position as shown in FIG. 9, it can readily enter the journal fitting sole 1713 with the deformation of the peripheral edge of stopper head because of the existence of the second segment 17B, of said hole-17B. Thus, the introduction of the journal 14 into the journal fitting hole 178 shown in FIG. 9 is toplace the journal against the horizontal plate member with a certain inclination, while that shown in FIG. 10 is to place the journal 14 parallel to the plate member and inlcine the bearing which usually extends perpendicularly to said plate member outwardly against said perpendicular. FIG. 10 is particularly to show how the other journal 16 is introduced into a journal fitting hole 198 of bearing 20 after the journal 14 has been fitted in the journal fitting hole 173. By pulling the plate member 4 after the journals 14 and 16 have been fitted in the corresponding journal fitting holes 178 and 198 respectively, said journals 14 and 16 engage the corresponding journal holding holes 17A and 19A respectively, thereby are pivotably held on the axis which is parallel with the surface of plate member 4. The stopper head of journal which stands in correspondence to such bearing hole comprising the journal fitting hole and the journal holding hole may be of a disk shape as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is to show how the buckle or adjuster of the above-mentioned first embodiment is actually used with a band or belt. As shown, one end of the band or belt B ispassed through the slot 12 of the plate member 2 to beheld in place thereby, and the other end thereof is pressed against the inner face of the other plate member-4 for clamping by the clamp member 10 following the pivotal movement of the plate member 2..It is to be noted thatthe first plate member is curved so that it can conform to the trunk shape of the users body.

FIG. 13,to FIG. 16 are to show the second embodiment of the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention. In the above-mentioned buckle or adjuster of the first embodiment the first plate member and the second plate member are molded separately, while the feature of the buckle or adjuster of the second embodiment is thatboth plate members are molded integrally of the plastic material. v

Particularly in reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the buckle or adjuster is adapted to open and close by means of a pair of hinge means 6, 8, one of the hinge means 8 comprising, same as in the first embodiment, the journal 16 extending laterally integrally with the plate member 2 at one of the longitudinal side of said plate member 2 and having a stopper head 115 at the outer end thereof and the bearing 18 provided on the other plate member 4. Said bearing 18 has the same construction as the bearing hole of bearing shown in FIG. 6. The other hinge means 6 provided at the opposite side of said hinge means 8 comprises a bendable belt-shaped member 20 extending longitudinally over both plate members and being formed integrally with both plate members, said belt-shaped member actually forming the hinge. This belt-shaped member 20 is formed thinner than each of the plate members as illustrated. I

In order to subject the first and second plate members 2, 4to a proper opening or closing movement, it is desirable that one bending end portion 201 of the belt-shaped member 20 is substantially located on the axis 101 of the bearing 18, and other bending end portion 202 is substantially located on the axis 102 of the journal 16, as indicated FIG. 14. Therefore, a notch 22 may be provided on the first plate member 2 so that the bending end portion 201 of the belt-shaped member 20 is positioned as adjacent as possible to the axis 101 of bearing 18. t t

The constructions of the clamp member 10 and the slot 12 of the first plate member 2 are the same as those I described above in connection with the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 and 16 illustrate the operational condition of the buckle or adjuster of the second embodiment which buckle or adjuster being applied actually to a band or belt, and the operation thereof is the same as in the first embodiment.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 the modifications of buckle or adjusterof the second embodiment mentioned above are shown. Referring now particularly to FIG. 17, the positions of the belt-shaped member 20 and the bearing 18 in this buckle or adjuster are reversed as compared to FIG. 13, said bearing 18 possessing the bearing hole 17 of the same shape as the bearing hole (comprising the journal holding hole 17A and the journal fitting hole 178) shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. The clamp member comprises two ridges l10 protecting generally perpendicularly from the plate surface integrally with the plate member at one side of the plate member 2 and extending laterally. Particularly to mention is the provision of an antiskid means 25 on the surface of plate member 4 to prevent the bands, belts, straps or the like to which said belt or adjuster is applied from slipping longitudinally. i

In the buckle or adjuster illustrated in FIG. 18, notches 22A and 22B are provided respectively in both plate members, which notches are similar to the notch 22 previously described and shown in FIGS. 13 and 16.

The following description is now given to explain the third embodiment of the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention. The feature of the buckle or adjuster of this third embodiment is that a locking means is provided for locking the first plate member 2 and the second plate member 4 reliably together at their closed position, said locking means comprising a male locking element formed on one of the plate members and a female locking element formed on the other plate member, both locking elements being adapted to interlock closely together. The buckle or adjuster shown in FIG. 19 is provided with a couple of locking means disposed on the extension line (production) of the belt-shaped member 20 which forms the hinge means 6, a male locking element 24 being illustrated as an I-shaped projection formed on the plate member 4 integrally therewith, and a female locking element 26 being illustrated as a U-shaped receptacle formed on the plate member 2 integrally therewith at the opposite side of said male locking element 24 corresponding in shape therewith.

FIG. 20 shows how both plate members 2, 4 stand when they are closed after the stopper-headed journal 16 has been fitted in the bearing 18, wherein said male and female locking elements 24, 26 are shown as being closely interlocked toether.

As shown in FIG. 21, said locking means may be provided on both longitudinal sides of two plate members which constitute the buckle or adjuster according to the present invention. In this figure two male locking elements 24A, 24B are provided at the opposite longitudinal sides of the plate member 4, while the matching female locking elements 26A, 268 respectively are provided at the opposite longitudinal sides of the other plate member 2.

The above-mentioned male locking element and female locking element maybe of any construction as long as they tend to hold appropriately both plate members in their closed position. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the maleand female locking elements maybe a wedge shaped-projection 124 shown a correspondingly shaped cutout portion 126, respectively, or as shon in FIG. 23, the male and female locking elements may also be a cylindrical projection224 and a correspondingly shaped hole 226, respectively.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show a further embodiment of the buckle or adjuster.

Referring to FIG. 24, the buckle or adjuster shown therein is formed wholly as a simple structure, a couple of hinge means pivotally connecting the first and second plate member comprising belt-shaped members 20A, 208 both formed integrally with the plate members, and two couples of locking means for locking both plate members together at their closed position comprising male locking elements 124A, 1243 and female locking elements 126A, 1268. The buckle shown in FIG. 25 is of thetype having the same construction as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 except that the former is further provided with male locking elements 224A, 224B and female locking elements 226A, 2268.

In the fitting operation of the journal into bearing mentioned above with regard to the various embodirrients, the journal has been introduced into the corresponding bearing from the inside of buckle or adjuster to the outside thereof, however, the constructions of journal and bearing may beso modified that said journal is inserted into the bearing from the outside of buckle or adjuster to the inside thereof as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. For example, as is clearly shown in FIG. 27, the journal 16 having the stopper head 15 is formed at an outer end portion of the plate member 4 integrally therewith and is held by a support member 30 extending perpendicularly from the surface of the plate member 4, said journal projecting inwardly. The bearing 18 is located slightly inwardly of said support member 30 and has the bearing hole 17 such as shown in FIG. 6 (i.e., the bearing hole comprising the journal holding hole 17A and the journal fitting hole 17B).

Since the buckle or adjuster of the present invention is molded of the plastic material as mentioned above, the size and weight thereof can be lessened whenever necessary and the production thereof can be made on a mass production basis, thus the manufacturing and material costs thereof can be greatly reduced as compared to the conventional type metal buckle or adjuster.

Further, the buckle or adjuster of the present invention can be structurally modified into a number of forms, therefore, the application thereof is extremely wide.

What I claim is:

l. A plastic buckle or adjuster comprising first and second plate members adapted to open and close by means of two hinge means provided at opposite ends, one of said plate members being provided with a clamp means at one side thereof for restraining belts, bands or straps from moving longitudinally and a slot at the other side thereof for passing one end of the belts, bands or straps therethrough to hold them in place, one .of said hinge means comprising a laterally projecting journal formed integrally with one of the plate members at a longitudinal side thereof and provided with a generally circular stopper head of a larger diameter than that of said journal at the tip of the journal and a bearing formed integrally with the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of said journal and provided with a bearing hole, said journal extending through'the bearing hole, the other hinge means comprising a bendable belt-shaped member which extends longitudinally between both plate members and is formed integrally with both plate members with less thickness than that of the plate members.

2. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing hole has an average inside diameter generally conforming to the diameter of said journal, and said journal is forced into said bearing hole by deforming the peripheral edge of said stopper head'utilizing the resilience peculiar to plastics.

3. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing hole comprises a journal holding hole of a generally semicircular shape and generally conforming to the diameter of corresponding journal and a journal fitting hole which communicates with said journal holding hole at the bottom side thereof and has a width generally conforming to the outside diameter of the stopper head and a height shorter than the size of outside diameter of said stopper head, said journal fitting hole comprising a first segment being defined between the upper end position of said journal fitting hole and a position corresponding to the plate surface of plate member and a second segment being defined within an area extending for a certain distance perpendicularly downward from said plate surface through a portion of said plate member, and said journal being adapted to enter smoothly the corresponding bearing when the journal is inclined appropriately against the plate surface of plate member.

4. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp means comprises one or more 8 ridges formed integrally with the plate member along a lateral side of the plate member portion and projecting generally perpendicularly from the plate surface.

5.- A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper head has a generally disk shape.

said locking means being provided at least on the same side where the bendable belt-shaped member forming the hinge is provided, said locking means comprising a male locking element and a female locking element, said male locking element being located on one of the plate members and said female locking element being located on the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of the male locking element and being adapted to engage and interlock with the male locking element when both plate members are in the closed position.

7. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 6, wherein said male locking element comprises a projection projecting from the inner face of one of the plate members and said female locking element comprises a recess formed in the other plate member and shaped to correspond to said projection.

8. A plastic buckle or adjuster comprisingfirst and 'second plate members adapted to open and close by means of two hinge means provided at opposite ends, one of said plate members being provided with a clamp means at one side thereof for restraining belts, bands or straps from moving longitudinally and a slot at' the other side thereof for passing one end of the belts, bands or straps therethrough to hold them in place, each of said hinge means comprising a bendable beltshaped member which extends longitudinally between both plate members at the longitudinal side of each plate member and is formed integrally with both plate members with less thickness than that of the plate members, and locking means are provided on both sides of the plate members for holding both plate members tightly together at their closed position, each of said locking means comprising a male locking element and a female locking element, said male looking element being located on oneof the plate members and said female locking element being located on the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of the male locking element and being adapted to engage and interlock with the male locking element when both plate members are in the closed position.

9. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 8, wherein said male locking element comprises a projection projecting from the inner face of one of the plate.

members and said female locking element comprises a recess formed in the other plate member and shaped to correspond to said projection.

10. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 8, wherein said clamp means comprises one or more ridges formed integrally with the plate member along a lateral side of the plate member portion and projecting generally perpendicularly from the plate surface.

11. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 8, wherein an antiskid means is provided on the surface of plate member opposite to the side where the clamp means is formed.

12. A plastic buckle or adjuster comprising first and second plate members adapted to open and close by meansof two hinge means provided at opposite ends,

' one of said plate members being provided with a clamp with a generally circular stopper head of a larger diameter than that of said journal at the tip of the journal and a bearing fonned integrally with the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of said journal and provided with a bearing hole which is adapted to engage with said journal, each of said bearing holes having a journal holding portion of generally semicircular shape and generally conforming to the di ameter of the corresponding journal and a journal fit- 10 a segment defined within an area extending perpendicularly downward from said surface through a portion of said other plate member, each of said journals being adapted to enter smoothly the corresponding bearing when the journal is inclined appropriately with respect to the plate surface of said other plate member.

13. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said journals extends outwardly through the corresponding bearing hole from the inside of the buckle or adjuster.

14. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said journals extends inwardly through the corresponding bearing hole from the outside of the buckle or adjuster.

15. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein one of said journals extends outwardly through the corresponding bearing hole from the inside of the buckle or adjuster and the other journal extends inwardly through to the corresponding bearing hole from the outside of the buckle or adjuster.

16. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein said clamp means comprises one or more ridges formed integrally with the plate member along a lateral side of the plate member portion and projection generally perpendicularly from the plate surface.

g 3 g I UNlTfiD STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIQN him: No. 3,823,444 Dated w 15, 197 4 I Inventofls Takabayashi I t iscercified that error appear: in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In c1a1'm 16, lines 4-5, "projection" should be --project1'ng--.

" Signed and sealed this 15th day of Qctober 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR C MARSHALL DAN N Attestmg Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A plastic buckle or adjuster comprising first and second plate members adapted to open and close by means of two hinge means provided at opposite ends, one of said plate members being provided with a clamp means at one side thereof for restraining belts, bands or straps from moving longitudinally and a slot at the other side thereof for passing one end of the belts, bands or straps therethrough to hold them in place, one of said hinge means comprising a laterally projecting journal formed integrally with one of the plate members at a longitudinal side thereof and provided with a generally circular stopper head of a larger diameter than that of said journal at the tip of the journal and a bearing formed integrally with the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of said journal and provided with a bearing hole, said journal extending through the bearing hole, the other hinge means comprising a bendable belt-shaped member which extends longitudinally between both plate members and is formed integrally with both plate members with less thickness than that of the plate members.
 2. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing hole has an average inside diameter generally conforming to the diameter of said journal, and said journal is forced into said bearing hole by deforming the peripheral edge of said stopper head utilizing the resilience peculiar to plastics.
 3. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing hole comprises a journal holding hole of a generally semicircular shape and generally conforming to the diameter of corresponding journal and a journal fitting hole which communicates with said journal holding hole at the bottom side thereof and has a width generally conforming to the outside diameter of the stopper head and a height shorter than the size of outside diameter of said stopper head, said journal fitting hole comprising a first segment being defined between the upper end position of said journal fitting hole and a position corresponding to the plate surface of plate member and a second segment being defined within an area extending for a certain distance perpendicularly downward from said plate surface through a portion of said plate member, and said journal being adapted to enter smoothly the corresponding bearing when the journal is inclined appropriately against the plate surface of plate member.
 4. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp means comprises one or more ridges formed integrally with the plate member along a lateral side of the plate member portion and projecting generally perpendicularly from the plate surface.
 5. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper head has a generally disk shape.
 6. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein a locking means is provided for holding both plate members tightly together at their closed position, said locking means being provided at least on the same side where the bendable belt-shaped member forming the hinge is provided, said locking means comprising a male locking element and a female locking element, said male locking element being located on one of the plate members and said female locking element being located on the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of the male locking element and being adapted to engage and interlock with the male locking element when both plate members are in the closed position.
 7. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 6, wherein said male locking element comprises a projection projecting from the inner face of one of the plate members and said female locking element comprises a recess formed in the other plate member and shaped to correspond to said projection.
 8. A plastic buckle or adjuster comprising first and second plate members adapted to open and close by means of two hinge means provided at opposite ends, one of said plate members being provided with a clamp means at one side thereof for restraining belts, bands or straps from moving longitudinally and a slot at the other side thereof for passing one end of the belts, bands or straps therethrough to hold them in place, each of said hinge means comprising a bendable belt-shaped member which extends longitudinally between both plate members at the longitudinal side of each plate member and is formed integrally with both plate members with less thickness than that of the plate members, and locking means are provided on both sides of the plate members for holding both plate members tightly together at their closed position, each of said locking means comprising a male locking element and a female locking element, said male locking element being located on one of the plate members and said female locking element being located on the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of the male locking element and being adapted to engage and interlock with the male locking element when both plate members are in the closed position.
 9. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 8, wherein said male locking element comprises a projection projecting from the inner face of one of the plate members and said female locking element comprises a recess formed in the other plate member and shaped to correspond to said projection.
 10. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 8, wherein said clamp means comprises one or more ridges formed integrally with the plate member along a lateral side of the plate member portion and projecting generally perpendicularly from the plate surface.
 11. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 8, wherein an antiskid means is provided on the surface of plate member opposite to the side where the clamp means is formed.
 12. A plastic buckle or adjuster comprising first and second plate members adapted to open and close by means of two hinge means provided at opposite ends, one of said plate members being provided with a clamp means at one side thereof for restraining belts, bands or straps from moving longitudinally and a slot at the other side thereof for passing one end of the belts, bands or straps therethrough to hold them in place, each of said hinge means comprising a laterally projecting journal formed integrally with one of the plate members at a longitudinal side thereof and provided with a generally circular stopper head of a larger diameter than that of said journal at the tip of the journal and a bearing formed integrally with the other plate member at a position corresponding to that of said journal and provided with a bearing hole which is adapted to engage with said journal, each of said bearing holes having a journal holding portion of generally semicircular shape and generally conforming to the diameter of the corresponding journal and a journal fitting portion which communicates with said journal holding portion at the bottom thereof and has a width generally conforming to the outside diameter of the stopper head and a height less than the outside diameter of said stopper head, said journal fitting portion having a first segment between the upper end of the journal fitting portion and a postion corresponding to the surface of said other plate member and a second segment defined within an area extending perpendicularly downward from said surface through a portion of said other plate member, each of said journals being adapted to enter smoothly the corresponding bearing when the journal is inclined appropriately with respect to the plate surface of said other plate member.
 13. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said journals extends outwardly through the corresponding bearing hole from the inside of the buckle or adjuster.
 14. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said journals extends inwardly through the corresponding bearing hole from the outside of the buckle or adjuster.
 15. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein one of said journals extends outwardly through the corresponding bearing hole from the inside of the buckle or adjuster and the other journal extends inwardly through to the corresponding bearing hole from the outside of the buckle or adjuster.
 16. A plastic buckle or adjuster as claimed in claim 12, wherein said clamp means comprises one or more ridges formed integrally with the plate member along a lateral side of the plate member portion and projection generally perpendicularly from the plate surface. 